The candidacy period has started for the 3rd António Coutinho Science Awards (former António Coutinho scholarships), an initiative of the Gulbenkian Science Institute (IGC) with the support of the Merck Foundation and the Municipality of Oeiras, which aims to create opportunities for students and PhD researchers to promote their scientific careers. This annual program is aimed at students from PALOP (Portuguese-Speaking African Countries) or descendants of PALOP nationals residing in Portugal, as well as PhD students and researchers residing in PALOP. Applications are open until 30 April.
Find out in five questions and answers how these scholarships and awards work, and who they are intended for.
1. What are the António Coutinho Science Awards?
This initiative was created in honour of Professor António Coutinho, former Director of the Gulbenkian Institute of Science (IGC) and aims to provide opportunities for citizens of Portuguese-Speaking African Countries (PALOP), or their descendants, to engage in scientific research.
In total, two scholarships will be awarded each year: a Master’s Degree Research scholarship (BI-M PT) and a Master’s Degree Research scholarship (BI-M PALOP).
A postdoctoral research prize will also be awarded.
2. Who can apply for research scholarships?
- Master’s Degree Research scholarship (BI-M PT):
– Be a national of one of the PALOP countries or a direct descendant of a citizen of those countries;
– Be a university student on a Master’s Degree programme at a Portuguese higher education institution;
– Be a student of a discipline in the areas of life sciences, health sciences or exact sciences;
– Living in the municipality of Oeiras in the district of Lisbon, who is doing an internship in scientific research at a Portuguese research institution, regardless of its location; – Living outside the municipality of Oeiras, doing an internship in scientific research at a research institution based in the municipality of Oeiras.
- Master Research Scholarship (BI-M PALOP):
– Be a national of one of the PALOP;
– Be a university student on an Undergraduate Degree or Master’s Degree programme at a PALOP higher education institution;
– Be a student of a discipline in the areas of life sciences, health sciences or exact sciences;
3. Who can apply for the research prize?
– Candidates must have citizenship and residency in one of the PALOP countries;
– They must have a doctorate in one of the areas of life sciences, health sciences or exact sciences;
– They must have a proven track record of conducting excellent scientific research in the PALOP countries.
4. What is the duration of the scholarships and the research prize?
The two Master’s Degree research scholarships have a duration of 10 consecutive months.
The research prize is intended to finance an advanced research project for 9 consecutive months.
5. What are the amounts awarded in the scholarships and in the research prize?
In the case of the scholarship for students residing in Portugal, the costs related to tuition fees and research costs will be covered (expenses necessary for the training of the scholarship holder required by the Portuguese academic institution. Consumable expenses are accepted). In the case of the scholarship for students residing in PALOP, the costs related to a round trip between the country of residence and Portugal, research costs* and an English course will be covered.
In the case of the research prize, the António Coutinho Science Awards programme will award a total amount of 15 thousand euros to the chosen researchers. These expenses include: travel between the country of origin and Portugal and living costs, expenses necessary to carry out the research project and expenses with consumables.
